Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Letter" (The Box Tops)

Welcome to Tuesday!!! It is time once again to delve into the annals of musical history and retrieve an iconic musical interlude, while seeking the overarching spiritual principle to which could be applied to said interlude.  It's Tuesday and it's time for The Notes!  Welcome!  Please move your tray table to its upright position, the pilot has turned on the "fasten seat belts" sign and we are entering our approach for landing...


Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, this #1 hit from The Box Tops became a radio staple in 1967.  It went top 40 in record charts all over the world and peaked at #1 for 4 weeks, beginning on September 23, 1967, on Billboard's Hot 100.  It finished 2nd on the year end countdown behind Lulu's "To Sir With Love"  It is #372 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. 

The Box Tops, formerly known as The Devilles, can still be seen on tour with a lineup that features 2 original members.  The engagements are limited as each band member over the years has gone on to other vocational endeavors, mostly in and around the Memphis area.  

"Well, she wrote me a letter and she said she couldn't live without me no more".  In 1967, English teachers around the country would cringe with the grammar of this lyric.  This was a time when writing letters in and of themselves were included in most English courses at the high school level.   Letter writing had even been considered an artistic endeavor when writing letters reflected one's educational level as well as the desire to communicate with folks from far away.  

The art of  letter writing is something we have lost in our day of digital, mass communication.  We can speak with someone completely around the world in a matter of minutes, whereas in 1967, that conveyance would takes days, if not weeks, to reach the end user.  I suspect that the basics are the same with regards to letter/communication styles and standards, yet I ponder sometimes, if we have over complicated something (communication) that should be an easier thing to do.  It is the rare occasion that an email, text, or other form of digital communication has the capacity to improve one's vocabulary, patience with just the right phrase, or carry the feeling to which the writer wishes to emote.  It really is easier to just type whatever comes into our minds than to think or even contemplate about what it is exactly we wish to say in a communique.


Enter the best selling, and because of the price of many of them, most shoplifted Book of all times, The Bible. Regardless of the translation/paraphrase you prefer, it is the most incredible example of a love letter ever written to mankind. Even if you do not wish to have a Biblical worldview, it is difficult to diminish the impact the Bible has on the world.  It is a venerated religious text to Jews and Christians alike.   There is much respect given to the Bible as a historic account of man's existence on the planet by scholars of both the religious and nonreligious bend.  There is more historical evidence to prove many of the names and places found in the Bible than there is empirical evidence of Julius Caesar...yet no one seems to ever doubt Caesar existed..,

It may come as a surprise to you that in spite of the accolades and reverence given to the Bible that it is quickly growing into the most sold/stolen, but least read book in existence. A Christianity Today article from September 07 by Jeremy Webber contends that while 90% of Christians "desire to please an honor Jesus in all I do", only 19% read the Bible every day.  ("80% of Churchgoers Don't Read Bible Daily, LifeWay Survey Suggests" christianitytoday.com)  

How can this be?


All of these verses from the Bible attest to the importance of reading it to know how we are to live our lives.  They all provide a rationale for reading the Bible.   The King James Version of Paul's 2 letter to Timothy, however places a weighted reasoning to not just reading the Bible, but consue it.  You are probably familiar with this passage:  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2nd Timothy 2:14-18 King James Version of the Bible/The Message

Paul not only tells us what to do, "study", but gives a motivation for doing it, "to show yourself approved".  He is encouraging Timothy to be in the Word as much as possible, so Timothy can quickly and easily defend the challenges that he will face as a Christian, as well as live a life that is becoming more like Jesus. 

Many may consider reading/studying the Bible a task best suited for theologians/pastors/evangelists, etc.  The only qualification the Bible stipulates for its reading is that WE ARE TO DO IT.  

The Lifeway study referenced above could be disheartening. Imagine how God must feel.   He has written the best love letter ever penned to those He cares the most about, yet many, who profess to want to hear from Him, follow Him, and trust Him for their eternal destination, chose to not read His instructions for how to hear from Him, follow Him and trust Him. 

You may be having a Michael Jackson moment, looking at the man in the mirror and asking him to make a change, with regards to your own reading and study of the Bible.  Please allow the following encouragements:

1) If you don't think you have the time, is there something of less importance you could stop so you could prioritize the importance of Bible reading?

2) If you think the Bible is hard to understand, you are absolutely right!  There are difficult passages for us to wrap our minds around.  Find a translation/paraphrase that communicates effectively with you and then pray for Holy Spirit to provide understanding for that day.  (Did you know that there is even a graphic novel version of the Bible? The Action Bible) We don't have to comprehend the entirety of the Bible in one sitting.  Just get what God is wanting to say to you through that day's specific passage.  Don't place so much pressure on yourself!!!

3) If you find yourself being distracted, put away your mobile device, get up when no one else does (or stay up later than everyone else), find a solitary, quiet place and pray again for God's direction as you read.

4) If you find yourself struggling to maintain a daily plan, don't be so legalistic.  Read the Bible how it comes naturally to you.  If a Bible plan provides you the right structure, go for it.  If reading 1 chapter a day is the easiest for you, then just do it!  

5) If you find yourself in Numbers, Job, Isaiah, or Revelation, keep on,  keepin' on.  These are very challenging passages due to their statistics, complicated poetry, wrath of God predictions, and symbolism.  God has put ALL the Scripture together for us.  He speaks through different passages, in different ways, at different times in our lives to be exactly what we need at that moment.  I have found incredible insight for specific times/seasons of my life through the books mentioned above, even though they were sometimes intimidating.  Keep reading.  Keep studying.  Most of all keep praying for God's guidance in what it is He wants you to know through the hard spots.  Get started...TODAY!!!

The point is:  To effectively know how to live the life that God has called you to live, to be able to take up your cross daily, to present yourself as a living sacrifice, you have to know what God says about how to do each of those things.  By doing so, ultimately, you begin to see yourself transformed more into Christlikeness.  After all, isn't that the goal of all those who claim the name of Jesus?

How do you do this?  You don't have to have a ticket on an aeroplane, or take a fast train.  Your loneliness can be gone, and one day you'll go home...Just take the time to read HIS letter....



'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Feel The Earth Move" (Carole King)

Tuesday's Musical Notes

Welcome to Tuesday and The Notes!!!  Each week we attempt to highlight a song that is a past favorite.  We hope you have found most weeks fun and thought provoking.  There have been on occasion specific Musical Notes that have included issues that are far from settled and can sometimes be controversial.  Today's Notes is one of the days.  Our intention is never to offend.  We have many people we consider close friends with which we disagree on particular topics, but when it comes to foundational principles, we are in complete agreement.  For an example, I have some friends who are not keen on the song, "Walkin' On Sunshine" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walkin' On Sunshine"), but we are in complete accord when it comes to "Amazing Grace".  Our conversations usually wind up with a unifying commitment to each other regarding our agreements. 

On other occasions, conversations with friends turn out to be educational for both of us, even though they have been a bit, shall we say...intense.  

One such topic is climate change.  This heart trembling subject has seemingly made more enemies out of friends than the Civil War.  President Trump reignited the conversation recently by pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Accords.  The reaction in the US was instantaneous.  You would have thought the sky was...a tumblin' down, a tumblin' down, a tumblin' down....


It is appropriate that we celebrate Carole King's classic hit, "I Feel the Earth Move" with this week's Notes.  You see, 46 years ago, on the 19th of June, the song hit #1.  It was released as a dual "A" side single with "It's Too Late", also from the smash hit Tapestry.  It was King's second album and totally avoided the sophomore slump that many artists experience with the follow up to debut albums.  Tapestry garnered critical acclaim, Grammy awards, and sold over 25 million copies to date making it a "diamond" record.  

More importantly it solidified and elevated King's songwriting and musical skills among her contemporaries of the time, and brought an "easier" vibe to the harder tinged rock that was being produced at the time.  

It also brought about the female role in rock  and roll that was already being proffered by the likes of Janis Joplin, Cher, Linda Rondstadt (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "When Will I Be Loved") and Joni Mitchell.  These powerful female iconic musicians continue to be a force 40 years later as their music is still played at radio and they even are called upon to provide music for TV.  King, with an assist from daughter, Louise Goffin,  has provided the theme and other elemental music for the hit show The Gilmore Girls ("Where You Lead" - Theme from The Gilmore Girls)  and continues to tour to sold out audiences.

Now back to our regularly scheduled controversy...

As a product of the 70's, I was deeply impacted by the crying Indian PSA that decried the destruction of our planet by litter.  Keep America Beautiful Foundation PSA.  Perhaps you were too.  It's basic premise was that we are all in this together.  Let's keep America beautiful.  This PSA was wildly effective, at least in my world, and the vaulted interest in our stewardship toward the planet began a movement that today has millions around the world concerned about our natural resources.  We should all be very concerned as in Genesis 1 and 2, mankind was given the responsibility to care for God's created nature.  (Genesis 1:26-31 New International Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallelGenesis 2:15 NIV/The Message).  Even after mankind, through his pride, brought his own downfall from the perfection of Eden, God gave man responsibility for the stewardship of the planet.  It would be much more difficult to make a life given the introduction of imperfection to the world, but God allowed Adam and Eve to begin again.  

Since then, man has attempted to produce food for himself from the earth.  While there are "breadbasket" areas in the world that provide food for millions, there have been times the earth has seemingly fought against mankind to provide.  There are parts of our world that are totally unsuitable for life to be sustained, yet folks still live in these places.  They are truly living out the curse that Adam brought upon us.

Bring on the scientists behind the man made Global climate change movement.  About the time Iron Eyes Cody was impacting millions of impressionable young minds, Time Magazine went to newstands with this cover:


Inline image 1

I agree, the times were different.  Science has certainly improved its knowledge of how the climate is going to react to specific stimuli, however, I must wonder if this world view is a little askew...

You see if we go back to the Genesis account of creation, mankind wasn't even around when the most cataclysmic events on the globe were occurring.  As man was kicked out of the Garden, logic and our modern science would certainly support the hypothesis that his carbon footprint would have begun the destruction of all of our natural resources.  If you add to that the ancient and modern wars that the planet has survived (especially the explosion of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki), it would at least cause one to pause when hearing that the polar ice cap is melting.  

Jesus also speaks about the climate in Matthew, Mark, Luke.  He speaks of an unsettled time when nation will rise against nation and there will be earthquakes in a diversity of places.   (The Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew chapter 24 NIV/The MessageThe Gospel of Jesus according to Mark chapter 13 NIV/The Message, and The Gospel of Jesus according to Luke chapter 21 NIV/The Message

For more info on both sides of the debate, please go to: Center for Climate and Energy Solutions website and Answers In Genesis - Climate Change Articles

As you can see from these sites, both sides of the argument in support or denial of man made global climate change have their scientists that decry the research with which the other side has delivered ad naseum. 

In my opinion, what we really see with the global climate change movement is mankind's pride, once again coming to the surface.  Just like Adam, we find ourselves thinking more of ourselves than what we really should.  Maybe we should have used Carly Simon's (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Anticipation") "You're So Vain" today instead... perhaps another time.  

The Christian has a responsibility to do the best he can to be a good steward of our natural resources, however we must also understand that we are not the ones in control of it.  Only Creator God can have that role.

The science may be unsettled, but our faith is firm. 
Perhaps it's time, especially for those who claim to be Christians,  to humble ourselves, patiently listen to our fellow man, and then make the conversation less about us and more about the Person who knows every acre on the planet because He made each and every one. 

If we don't, we'll continue to see the sky a tumblin' down, a tumblin' down, a tumblin down...


'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" (Crosby, Stills and Nash)

Tuesday's Musical Notes

Welcome to Tuesday!  Thank you for joining us for another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  It's the blog that finds a song of the week and then explores its history and twists it just enough to bring about some truth from ancient times.  

At times we find ourselves on an archaeological dig through treasured tomes of classic music and prose.  As we continue to dig, we find that the prose sometimes has a "ring" to it that perhaps the writer never intended.   Intended or not, Tuesday's Musical Notes has taken on the mantle of discovering these nuggets of wisdom and parlaying it into our world for application.  Occasionally long of tooth, but never short of truth, it's Tuesday and its time for The Notes...

Once upon a time, in a muddy field in New York state, there was a concert.  This was not just ANY concert, this my dear friends was Woodstock.  For 3 days, musicians from all over the world would join with their hippie brothers and sisters and celebrate.  What was the cause for the celebration you might ask?  Peace.  Love.  Rock-N-Roll.  The counterculture movement kicked into high gear in 4/4 time when this festival was finally over.  Woodstock featured 32 bands over 3 days in August of 1969.  One of the groups featured were a band of minstrel poets and they sang to a damsel with blue eyes...


Many claim that Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll and for a time, he was.   But like many soveriegn lands before it, the monarchies of Rock have changed as often as the culture and the definition of popular music have changed.  Enter into this changing history, the kingdom of Woodstock, with its hippie subjects and their kings, Crosby, Stills, and Nash.  (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wasted on the Way")

Today's feature song was written for Judy Collins, whom Stephen Stills had been romantically involved.  They were however in the beginning stages of a breakup.  "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" was Stills swan song on the relationship.  Stephen Stills attended a concert of Judy Collins' and met her afterwards to play her the song.  She has commented favorably on the song by saying that it instilled the legacy of their time together. Discover for yourself what kind of legacy Collins is speaking towards.  "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" lyrics presented by Bing

What in your life instills a legacy with other folks?  Do words like character, honor, and respect come into play when others think about you or maybe it's just the opposite.  It's getting to the point, that you're no fun anymore?  
When we speak of legacy, CS&N has a point.  I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, and on occasion we make it hard to have a legacy that is fondly remembered by those around us.  Why is that?

There is a tension that exists in the world today.  The battle of good verses evil DOES exist outside of the Comic book kingdom.  If you are a student of the Bible, you well know that truth ultimately has the total victory.  That however, doesn't relieve the tension we feel now, while living our lives. 

The Bible details the life of One who is the only person that has ever lived that can be called pure good.  His name was Jesus. He first appears in the creation narrative:  Genesis 1 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible parallel

Notice verse 26. God is about to create man, He uses the pronoun "Us".  (I am yours, you are mine...) Jesus and Holy Spirit, the other beings of Trinity are the "Us" to which God refers.  As God created man, we were given the propensity to be the pure goodness that God had intended. We were also give the freedom to choose.  Unfortunately, we chose poorly and we made it hard.

Because of our poor choice, Jesus, volunteered to be the only sacrifice that would relieve the tension between God and man. ( The Gospel of Jesus according to the Disciple John 3:16-17 NKJV/The MessageHe came as a man, the only truly good man, and gave His life to bridge the gap that defined the broken relationship between God and mankind.  He continues to bridge that gap today for those who are willing to take the steps necessary to cross.  (The Apostle Paul's Letter to the Roman Church 8:31-39 NKJV/The Message)

With this truth placed before you, what have you got to lose?

Can I tell it like it is?



p.s. - please never repeat the phrase from today's feature song..."Tuesday mornin', please be gone I'm tired of you..."  wow...just wow!

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Minute by Minute" (The Doobie Brothers)


Tuesday's Musical Notes


Welcome to Tuesday and Tuesday's Musical Notes!  Thanks for stopping by as we venture down the highways and byways of popular musical history and see how those thoroughfares intersect with the heavenly highway...no I'm not talking about the hymn books...metaphor, please get the metaphor.  Regardless of the road you may be on, it is certain that some of the songs featured at The Notes have been a part of that particular road trip.  Check out the archives to see if one of your freeway mixtape tracks happens to have received the Musical Notes Treatment.  

Welcome to today!  Make the most of it!  You're off to a good start by reading Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Thanks again for including Tuesday's Musical Notes as a part of your weekly travel plans.  Now, we've not a minute to waste...

Today's Notes is a reprint from the first year of emails that I sent to friends.  Their encouragement soon led to the blog that you see today.  As such, today's Musical Notes is a little bit dated.  We've come a very long way down some of these entertainment roads...enjoy.  

Our family loves a good story.  In any media the story can be presented.  As far as books are concerned, I would imagine our family is similar to yours in that each person has a favorite author, style, or genre they prefer.  Most of the time, however, we usually agree about movies.  In fact, we all agree that the 2011  movie Courageous is a must see for everyone (Tuesday's Musical Notes began that same year).  It is one of 4 films produced by Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia (Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel).  If you haven't seen it, the Notes highly recommends it or any of the Sherwood films as a great Father's Day gift or rental.  Courageous is a longer movie so make sure you get a  Wal Mart run in for snacks and a maybe even a box of kleenex.  Conceivably,  you could even use the movie as an outreach tool to that pre-Christian person which you have been speaking  to about the Lord.  We have a huge opportunity to  change our culture when we support movies like this.  
    
About the same time, another film that was getting increasing press among Christian reviewers, "The Mighty Macs".  It is based on the true story of a women's collegiate basketball team.   While it is not overtly "evangelistic" like all of the Sherwood movies, it is one that seems to have a very inspirational story.  Perhaps the best way to describe it is Glory Road meets Sister Act

See the trailer here and decide for yourself:   The Mighty Macs - starring Carla Gugino - 2009
The reason I bring up motion pictures is I remember a time when I  received a text from my youngest daughter in the spring of 2011.  It read "Go to IMDB now".  The immediacy of such a text piqued my curiosity though I suspected what the text was regarding.  IMDB stands for internet movie data base.  It is the place  to see trailers of coming soon movies as well find information regarding actors.  If you love movies and the entertainment industry in general, check it out at imdb.com.  

 When I did go to the site, I saw what had her so excited.  The trailer for "The Avengers" movie was available and she had seen it.  In the event you aren't a fan of comic book movies, The Avengers is the Comic Book series that combines many heroes from the Marvel Comic Book Universe into one cohesive group and they essentially save earth as we know it.  She then made the statement that "The month of May can not get here soon enough!"  I was struck by that comment.  The whole "don't wish your life away" cliche came to my mind.  I resisted the temptation to text her that very phrase as I realized that it never really did me any good to hear such things when I was her age.  

Our desire to see time go by so we can get to special events is indicative of the culture in which we live.  We truly live in a soundbite society. And if you were to ask most folks, I suspect they would agree that we live in a time deprived age.  It seems that there is never enough time to get things done that we want to do.  Maybe the band Alambama had a point.  ("I'm in a Hurry" by Alabama from the 1992 album American Pride)  We multitask better than any generation that preceded us, yet it seems we are always in a rush to get to the next thing.  

I confess to you that there have been and continue to be times where I allow schedules and time to be an idol in my life.  In response to this time priority crisis and idolatry, I have tried to change my language to reflect an attitude of gratefulness for the things in which I am allowed by God to participate.  Instead of having things to do and doing them quickly ( I have to get to work, I have to feed the dog, I have to pay the bills, etc) ......I get to do things and savor the opportunity to serve ( I get to go to work, I get to feed the dog, I get to pay the bills, etc.).  Which of these brings more glory to God?  

I guess you could say that I have gained a greater appreciation for living "Minute By Minute".

You may or may not know the name Michael McDonald.  I suspect that you do however, know this prolific songwriter's music and bands in which he has an association.  He appeared as keyboardist and vocalist on 4 albums for Steely Dan from 1975-1980.  He even cowrote 
"I'll Wait",  with Van Halen, for their 1984 album.  But his biggest hits came with a band by the name of...."The Doobie Brothers".  

McDonald was the substitute for an ill band member while the Doobies were on tour and was given a permanent gig with the band shortly thereafter.  His bluesy voice soon became the trademark in the mid to late 70's for the Doobie Brothers as they hit with 1976's "Takin' It To The Streets".  Some have suggested that McDonald's religious beliefs, he professes Christianity, influenced the entire album and that "Takin' It To The Streets" is a discreet reference to evangelism.  

The Doobie Brother's next release was the 1977 #10 album, Livin' on a Fault Line.  It would be the set up for 1979's Minute by Minute which went all the way to #1 on Billboard's Album Chart based on the strength of its 3 Billboard Hot 100 singles ("Dependin' on You" (#25), "Minute by Minute"(#14), and "What a Fool Believes'" (#1)).  

"Minute By Minute"  details a man's patience as he waits for the love of his life to  determine what the status of their relationship might be and the conflicting emotions that he is feeling.  Check out this  performance with Michael McDonald singing the lead and some classic Doobie Brothers' harmony:

"Minute by Minute" - title track from the 1978 album by The Doobie Brothers

The Bible has many things to say about how we spend our time.  How we let each minute by minute go by is a testimony of who we are.  God is concerned about the details of our lives.  In The Gospel of Jesus according to the disciple Matthew 10:26-31 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible parallel we hear the Lord reassuring the disciples to have courage because God was with them.  He loves them enough to know the very number of the hairs on their head.  That promise hasn't changed.  Be assured that if you are His, the Lord is with you minute by minute of every day.  

The Bible speaks to us about the longevity of life in the Psalms.  Read Psalm 90 NKJV/The Message to gain perspective about who we are in relation to who God is.  In Psalms 90:12 the Bible says:  "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."  This passage speaks to the priority of our limited time on earth and doing everything we can to gain wisdom while we are here."  I suppose that the question could be raised, "What is true wisdom?".  I think wisdom are those things we learn that enable  us to make decisions in alignment with God.  The decisions that are made outside of that alignment usually don't work out so well for me, how about you?    As I read the Bible, God reveals something new to me in passages that I have read many times before.  Wisdom is increased.  With each passing day, I see and hear things that increase my perspective and sometimes alter my viewpoints.  Wisdom is enhanced.  One of Tuesday's Musical Notes' goal is to  be something that increases and enhances your wisdom while encouraging your heart.   We hope we succeed each week in causing you to ponder anew these thoughts as your day goes along...minute by minute.

  
'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy